About Boards Of Elections

What is the Board of Elections?

A Board of Elections is a county or local government office responsible for carrying out virtually all aspects of public elections, including general elections, caucuses, primaries, special elections, and referenda. The Board of Elections ensures the accuracy of election results and the fairness and legality of elections.

The responsibilities of the Board of Elections can be grouped into three categories:

Voter Registration

Election Planning and Preparedness

Election Day Activities

Voter registration entails maintaining the jurisdiction's list of registered voters and ensuring the accuracy of voter registration information. The Board of Elections processes and verifies voter registration applications submitted by citizens. The Board of Elections may also conduct outreach to eligible voters at regular intervals to keep voter list information up to date.

As part of the election preparation process, the Board of Elections maintains information on voting districts and establishes polling places for each district. The Board of Elections prepares election ballots, ensuring the accuracy of candidates' names and the wording of any referendum or ballot questions. The Board of Elections also prepares and manages the issuance of absentee ballots. In some states, the Board of Elections prepares ballots for vote-by-mail and early voting. The Board of Elections provides training for all poll workers and volunteers. The maintenance of voting machines and related equipment is also under the responsibility of the Board of Elections. The Board of Elections ensures that all these tasks are completed in accordance with statutory schedules and deadlines.

On Election Day, the Board of Elections provides polling places with ballots, voting machines, personnel, and other resources. Throughout Election Day, the Board of Elections manages and monitors polling places and maintains communication with state officials regarding any issues or irregularities that arise. At the conclusion of voting, the Board of Elections is responsible for tallying the results and reporting them to state officials and the public.

Boards of Elections operate at the county and local government level. The board members are usually elected in accordance with rules requiring representation from both major political parties. Both elected and professional staff conduct the operations of the Board of Elections.